Composite gun barrel



- Apri14,1933- G. J. KESSENICH COMPOSITE GUN BARREL Filed March 24, 1951 INVENTOR. LI K E s s E 111 ch ATTORNEY Ere u r y Patented Apr. 4, 1933 UNITED STATES GREGORY J. KESSENICH, F MADISOIL WISCONSIN ooivirosrrn eon BARREL Application filed March 24, 1931. Serial N0. 524,939.

(GRANTED UNDER THE ACT or MARCH 3, 1883, AS AMENDED Armt 30;192'3; 3700.G. 757

The invention described herein maybe manufactured and used by or for the -Government for governmental'purposes without the payment to me of any royalty thereon.

This invention relates to a composite gun ualrel, and more particularly it has reference to that type of barrel in which a radial play is established between the inner tube or liner and the outer tube or jacket for the purpose of enabling the tube to be easily removed when worn out. p p p The improvements proposed herein are directed in general to certain features whereby fabrication of the componentelements of the gun barrel will be greatly facilitated. Specifically, the collar and keys employed to hold the: tube against longitudinal and rotational movement relative to the jacket are provided as individual units and the tube is of externally cylindrical form capable of being inserted in an internally tapered jacket from either the front or rear.

To these and other ends, the invention consists in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of elements pointed out in the claims, forming a part of this specification.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing in so which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a gun barrel constructed in accordance with the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal sectional View of the oint at the breech end of the gun.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of one of the combined collar and key units employed at the breech joint.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the front joint.

Fig. 5 is a view in side elevation showing the relation of the tube and jacket when applying the breech joint.

' Fig. 6 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view showing a modified form of collar unit.

Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown a gun barrel consisting of a jacket 5, a breech ring 6 threaded on the rear end of the j acket and an inner tube or liner 7 inserted in the acket and having a self sustaining muzzle portion 7a projecting from the jacket. I

The: inside of the jacket is tapered; the diameter gradually increasing from'rear to front. The outside ofthe tube is cylindrical and the external diameter is less than the minimum internal diameter of the jacket so that it is possible to insert the tube. from either the front or the rear of the jacket. This difference in diameters establishes a radial play space 8 that disappearswhenthe gun is in action but is restorable when the gun is 1pot in action to facilitate removal of the tu e. 1

Since the pressure to which'the .gunbarrel is subjected decreases from breech to muzzle the radial play space mayhave 2. correspondingly increasing value. This is conveniently provided by the relation existing between the cylindrical tube and thetapered j acket. The

jacket ismore or less" of a permanent fixture and consequently considerably less labor is involved in tapering it than in tapering the numerous short-lived replaceable tubes.

A further advantage resulting from making the tube the form of a cylinder cons sists in the uniformity that isobtainedcwhen cold-workingthe tube to produce .sel'f hoop ing; This uniformity of denseness and homogeneity throughout the length-of the tube insures equal resistance to strain atall points.

The tube is held against-forward displacement with respect to the acket'by'rneans ofa collar formed of segments or half rings 9 engageable in an annulargroove 10 adjacent the breech end of the tube and bearing against an annular shoulder 11 in the jacket. The shoulderis providedby :a countenbored recess 12 the margin of which is threaded to receive ,n-ut or ring l eng'ag'eable with-the rear face of the collar to prevent rearward movement; of thet-ube. r

The segments 9 o tf'the collareach haveaa projecting key 14 which is partially receivablei-n key-ways'15 and L6 respectively in'the tubeand jacket. This key holds the" tube againstrotational displacement with respect to the j acket. While only onejkey is showj n on each segment it is obvious that more may be employed.

The segments of the collar are placed in the groove ofthe tube whenthe tube is pro jecting from the rear of the jacket as shown in Fig. 5. The tube is then moved forwardly until the segments'abut against the shoulder 11 and the ring 13 threaded to the jacket to complete the assembly. The segments are preferably covered with a heavy lubricant such as graphite which serves to seal the oint against theentry of moisture, facilitate their subsequent withdrawal and provide a'fluid pressure medium acting as a lubricant during dilation of the tube. The separation of the segments when the gun barrel is in action is negligible. lVhen replacing tubes the segments are removed from the old tube and applied to the new one.

The manner of applying the segments is advantageous in that it is not'necessary to draw the muzzle portion 7a of the tube through the jacket. The muzzle portion is covered with paint and in service'it may become roughened.

' Referring to Fig. 4, the front joint between the tube and jacket consists of a gland 17 embracing the tube and fitting in a counterbored recess 18 in the tube. The gland is preferably formed with an internalannular groove 19 and an external annular groove 20 both filled with a lubricant such as graphite to effect a seal against the entry of moisture.

The gland will not interfere with the longitudinal expansion and contraction of the tube and when necessary it is radially compressible. It may be fixed to one or the other of the members in the manner of the ring 13 at the breech. l/Vhere the collar 9 is not present to efiect a seal, the ring 13 may carry a packing ring 21.

In the modification shown in Fig. 6 the collar 9a is in one piece, the ring 1311 engaging the full height'of the collar and being threaded to the tube as well as the jacket.

I claim:

1. In a gun a jacket having a tapered bore increasing from rear to front, an externally cylindrical tube within the jacket, the diameter of the tube being less than the minimum diameter of the bore of the jacket to establish a radial play space restorable after firing.

2. In a gun, a jacket, a tube insertable in the jacket, the maximum diameter of the tube being less than the minimum diameter of the bore of the jacket, a segmental collar having keys engageable with both the tube and jacket adjacent the breech end, and retaining means attachable to the jacket and engageable with the collar.

8. In a gun, a jacket, a tube insertable in the jacket, the maximum diameter of the tube being less than the minimum diameter of the bore of the jacket, a collar having keys engageable with both the tube and jacket adjacent the breech end, and retaining means the breech end, and retaining means attach- I I able to the jacket and engageable with the collar.

6. In a gun, a jacket, a tube insertable in the jacket, and spaced therefrom to establish I a radial play space, an immobilizing connection between the jacket and tube at the breech end establishing a seal, and a movable sealed joint between'the jacket andtube at the muzzle end. I

7. In a gun, a jacket, 2, tube insertable in the jacket and spaced therefrom to establish a radial play space, and aseal between the jacket and tube atboth ends of the jacket.

8. In a gun, a jacket, a tube insertable in the jacket and spaced therefrom to establish a radial play space, and a deformable seal restorable after firing between the forward end of the jacket and the tube for closing the radial play space.

GREGORY J. KESSENICH.

CERTIFICATE OF CORREGIION.

Patent N0. 1,903,295. April 4:, 1933. GREGGRY J. KESSENICH.

it is hereby certified than error appears in the printed specificatiml 0f the abeve :mmbered gamut requiring cerrection as follows: Page 2, line 94, claim 8, strike out the WGI'dS "restorable after firing" and insert the same after "space in Fine 93; and that the said Letters Patent should be mad with this carr-uctian therein that the same may cemform to the record of the case in the Paiem Qfifice.

Signed and smiled this 23rd day of May, A. D. 1933.

M. J. Moore.

(Seai) Asting Commissioner mf Emilia CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,903,295. April 4, i933.

GREGORY J. KESSENIGH.

it hereby certified that error appears in the printed speeifieatieziei the abeve mimeereri patent requiring cerreetiezz as follows: Page 2, line 94, claim 8, strike cut the WOI'dS "restorable after firing" and insert the same aiter "spaee in iine 93; arid that the said Letters Patent should be read with this eerreetion therein that the same may eenferm t0 the recorrf. of the ease iii the Patent Office.

Signed mid sealed this 23rd day of May, A. D. 1933.

M. J. Moore.

(Seai) Aetiiig Commissioner ei Patents. 

